Will Vinegar Kill Head Lice?
WouterWhile there is no proven way to kill adult lice, some people have had success with vinegar to kill head lice. A solution of vinegar and warm water is used to wash hair and scalp. It should be applied to the entire scalp, and left to soak for about thirty minutes. Once the treatment has been complete, you can wash your hair with regular shampoo.
There are several varieties of vinegar, and some are more potent than others. Vinegar that contains five percent acetic acid is best because it is acidic enough to break down the nit coating, but not too acidic that it causes skin irritation. For instance, white vinegar is a diluted form of acetic acid. You can also use red wine vinegar, but it’s generally more expensive and usually contains five to seven percent acetic acid. Another option is apple cider vinegar, which contains no filters. However, the most potent concentrations are found in pasteurized apple cider vinegar.
There are several ingredients in Listerine that can be used to kill head lice. Although Listerine is high in alcohol, it contains other ingredients like dimethicone and salicylate. These ingredients don’t suffocate the lice, so you can use it to treat your child’s head lice. However, it is important to note that Listerine is not very effective against live lice.
